Kostenko



1956 F. KOSTENKO I HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION Filed Jan. 26, 1953 INVENTOR. FfD/P AOfTf/VKO By W M M United States Patent HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION Fedir Kostenko, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 26, 1953, Serial No. 333,142

2 Claims. (Cl. 192-60) The present invention relates to hydraulic transmissions and is concerned, primarily, with a novel type of such transmission that is automatic in its operation.

A hydraulic transmission of the type with which this invention is concerned comprises a housing that is drivably connected to the crank shaft of an engine and which housing has a cover plate in which is journalled the drive shaft of the motor vehicle. The housing carries one or more cylinders in each of which reciprocates a piston with a connecting rod extending from each piston to a cam on the drive shaft. The cylinder is formed with ports which communicate with the interior of the housing and, as the latter is filled with a hydraulic medium, the housing may be rotated independently of the drive shaft so long as the ports are open to permit of a free circulation of the hydraulic medium through the cylinders and housing.

The driving relation between the housing and the drive shaft is established by closing of the ports so as to cut off, or restrict, communication between the interior of the cylinders and the housing. After these ports are completely closed, the housing and drive shaft will rotate as a single unit and, if the ports are only partially closed, the amount of slippage between the housing and the drive shaft depends directly upon the extent to which the ports are closed.

An important object of the present invention is to provide, in a hydraulic transmission of the character indicated, a cylinder having ports therein, together with a floating ring that encircles the cylinder and which is adapted to be yieldably maintained in a position leaving the ports open by a spring but which is adapted to be moved by centrifugal force against the influence of the spring to close the ports. Inasmuch as the amount of centrifugal force which is generated is directly proportional to the speed of rotation of the housing, it is evident that the extent to which the ports are closed depends directly upon the speed at which the housing rotates. Thus the driving relation between the crank shaft of the engine and the drive shaft of the vehicle is automatically controlled by the speed of rotation of the crank shaft.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic transmission of the character indicated, having a housing including a plurality of cylinders, with each cylinder being provided with one of the floating rings aforesaid. Thus as many of the cylinders may be included as to meet the engineering requirements of any particular transmission and the motor vehicle in which it is installed.

Another object is to provide, in a hydraulic transmission of the type noted, an electro magnet which may be rendered effective by a manually operable switch, to move the ring to port closing position when occasion demands as in going down hill when there would be a tendency for the drive shaft to override the engine shaft.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will,

in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a hydraulic transmission which consists essentially of ahousing that is connected to the crank shaft of an engine, together with the housing being provided with a cover plate in which is journalled a drive shaft carrying one or more cams. The housing carries one or more cylinders, each of which is formed with ports and in which reciprocates a piston that is operatively connected with one of the cams of the drive shaft. Each cylinder is provided with a floating ring that encompasses the cylinder and which is normally biased into a position leaving the ports open by a spring. These rings are adapted to be moved under the influence of centrifugal force, generated by rotation of the housing to close the ports and thus build up resistance to reciprocation of the pistons by reason of the presence of a hydraulic medium in the housing. An electro magnet under the control of a manually operable switch may also be associated with each of said rings.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view of a hydraulic transmission, designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section through the transmission, taken about on the plane represented by the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken about on the plane represented by the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification including the electro-magnet.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the hydraulic transmission of this invention is shown as comprising a housing which is referred to in its entirety by the reference character H, and which housing is provided with a cover plate 10. The housing H comprises a circular flat wall 11 which has integrally formed therewith a central embossment 12 which is drivably connected to the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, as indicated at 13. Integrally joined to the peripheral edge of the circular plate 11 is a cylindrical wall 14 that is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed openings 15.

The circular plate 11 also carries an inner cylindrical wall 16 that is spaced from the outer wall 14 and which is coaxial therewith. This inner cylindrical wall 16 is also preferably formed integrally with the plate 11 and is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed cylindrical passages 17 which are coaxial and in alignment with the openings 15. Each of the passages 16 terminates at an inturned flange 18. The cover plate 10 is secured to the end face of the outer housing wall 14 in any pre ferred manner and this plate 10 is formed with a central circular opening 19 that is coaxial and in alignment with the crank shaft connection 13. Outstanding from the outer face of the cover plate 10 is a stuffing box 20, hav ing a bore 21 of a diameter greater than the opening 20. The drive shaft of a motor vehicle is represented at 22 and this drive shaft extends through the stuffing box 21 and opening 20 in which it is journalled, into the interior of the housing H, being continued to the plate 11 where its end is journalled in a bearing recess 23. A packing gland is shown at 24 as being mounted on the drive shaft 22 and co-operating with the stuffing box 20 to seal the opening 19 in which the shaft 22 is journalled. That portion of the drive shaft 22, which is positioned within the housing H, drivably carries a pair of cams 25 and 26.

It is important to note that the outer wall 14 and inner wall 17 of the housing I-I cooperate to define an annular ring-like chamber 27 with the inner wall 18 also defining a central chamber 28. This inner wall 18 is shorter than the outer wall 14 and stops short of the cover plate '10, thus providing a narrow space at 29 which establishes communication between the chambers 27 and 28. i

A cylinder C, is mounted in each of the openings 15 and passage 17, in alignment therewith. Each cyl- 'inder C comprises a main body portion 30, of cylindrical formation that is snugly fitted in one of the openings 17, with its inner end abutting the flange 13. This main body portion 30 carries a closed head 31, the outer contour of which stops just short of the opening 15. After the cylinder C and the mechanism associated therewith have been assembled in the housing H, each opening 15 may be closed by a plug such as represented at 32.

It is evident that the chamber 27 is bridged by the cylinder C, and that part of the main body portion 30 which is located within the chamber 27 is formed with a plurality of ports 33. These ports 33 are preferably arranged in a circle around the cylinder in the manner illustrated.

A piston 34 is slidably positioned in the main body portion 30 of each cylinder C, and is connected to a cam ring 35 on one of the cams 25 or 26 by a connecting rod 36. It is evident that as the housing H rotates with the drive shaft 22 stationary, the cams 25 and 26 will cause the pistons 34 to reciprocate in the cylinder C. The chambers 27 and 28 contain an appropriate hydraulic medium and so long as the ports 33 are open, this relative movement of the pistons and cylinders is permitted as it causes nothing more than a circulation of hydraulic medium throughout the chambers and the housing.

Each cylinder C is provided with a floating ring 37 which encompasses the cylinder with a fairly close fit and which is adapted to be moved over the ports 33 to close the latter. Each floating ring 37 is normally biased into a position leaving the ports 33 open and unrestricted by an expansion coil spring 38 that is preferably positioned between each ring 37 and a flange 39 on the head 31.

It is evident that the floating rings 37 are adapted to move outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force generated by rotation of the housing H to close the ports 33.

Operation While the operation of the hydraulic transmission of this invention is believed to be obvious from the illustration of the drawing and description of parts given, it may be briefly outlined as follows:

With the motor vehicle at rest the drive shaft 23'will, of course, be stationary. When the internal combustion engine of the car is first started in operation, it achieves what is known as the idling speed. At this speed the housing H is rotated by the crank shaft of the engine and, inasmuch as the ports 33 are fully open, there is a free circulation of the hydraulic medium within the housing H and no power is delivered to the drive shaft 22. At this idling speed there is not suflicient centrifugal force generated to overcome the influence of the spring 33.

. When it is desired to start movement of the vehicle, the engine is accelerated. This increases the rate at which the housing rotates which, of course, causes an increase in the centrifugal force generated. Thus the rings 37 move outwardly against the influence of the springs 38 and begin to restrict, or partially close, the ports 33. This restriction of the ports 33 builds up a resistance to circulation of the fluid. Hence the drive shaft 22 begins to rotate though not at the same rate as the housing H.

As the speed of the engine continues to increase, the rings 37 continue to move outwardly until the ports 33 are fully closed. When this condition is reached, there is no circulation of the fluid in the housing H and the housing and drive shaft 22 rotate as a unit. Thus the driving ratio of l to 1, between the crank shaft of the engine and the drive shaft of the vehicle, is established. When the vehicle encounters an upward grade or other increased load, the engine will slow down thus reducing the centrifugal force which holds the rings 37 in port closing position, thereby permitting the springs 38 to move the rings 37 away from the ports and partially open them. Thus, circulation of the fluid in the housing is again restored and a differential in the speed of rotation between the housing and the drive shaft 22 obtains.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the operation of the hydraulic transmission is entirely automatic and depends directly upon the speed at which the engine is operated. It is notable that the floating rings 37 have an appreciable mass and this mass is properly correlated with respect to the centrifugal force that is created t give the desired automatic operation.

The modification Referring now to Figure 4 which illustrates a modification, the head 31 of the cylinder 30 is shown as carrying a ring-like core 40 about which is wound a coil 41. When this coil 41 is energized the core 40 becomes a magnet which will draw the ring 37 to port closing position.

A manually operable switch 42 is provided for this purpose. When the switch 42 is closed it bridges a pair of brushes 43 and 44. The brush 43 is in contact with a ring 45 While the brush 44 is in contact with a ring 46. The rings 45 and 46 are mounted on the shaft 13 and are connected by lines 47 and 48 with the opposite ends of the coil 41.

While preferred specific embodiments of the invention are hereinbefore set forth, it is to'be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms and devices illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice Within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hydraulic transmission, a housing consisting of a circular plate having a peripheral flange and a concentric cylindrical wall outstanding from said plate providing an annular chamber and a main chamber communicating with one another, a cover plate for said housing, a drive shaft journaled in said cover plate and extending into said housing, a cam drivably mounted on said drive shaft within said housing, a cylinder carried by said concentric cylindrical wall and radially disposed within said housing, a piston reciprocal in said cylinder and operatively connected to said cam, said cylinder being formed with a plurality of ports communicating with said annular chamber, a hydraulic medium within said housing, a floating ring about said cylinder between said cylindrical wall and peripheral flange, said ring being adapted for radial movement for closing said ports under the influence of the centrifugal force of rotation of said housing, a coil spring surrounding said cylinder in contact with said ring and peripheral flange normally biasing said ring into a position leaving said ports open, and an electromagnet under the control of a manually operable switch associated with said cylinder and ring for moving said ring to a port closing position.

2. In a hydraulic transmission, a housing consisting of a circular plate having a peripheral flange and a con centric cylindrical wall outstanding from said plate providing an annular chamber and a main chamber communicating with one another, a cover plate for said housing, a drive shaft journalled in said cover plate and extending into said housing, -a camdrivably mounted on said drive shaft within said housing, a'cylinder carried by said concentric wall and'radially disposed within said housing, the said peripheral flange having an aperture therein to permit the insertion of's'aid'cylinder'into' said housing, a plug threadably mounted in said aperture, a piston reciprocal in said cylinder and operatively connected to said cam, said cylinder being formed with a plurality of ports communicating with said annular chamber, a hydraulic medium within said housing, a floating ring about said cylinder between said cylindrical wall and peripheral flange, said ring being adapted for radial movement for closing said ports under the influence of the centrifugal force of rotation of said housing, a coil spring surrounding said cylinder in contact with said ring and peripheral flange normally biasing said ring into a position leaving said ports open, and an electromagnet under the control of a manually operable switch associated with said cylinder and ring for moving said ring to a port closing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,519,957 Corneil Dec. 16, 1924 2,360,710 Nutt et al Oct. 17, 1944 2,592,015 Dionigi Apr. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 631,604 France Dec. 23, 1927 352,622 Great Britain July 18, 1931 

